German mathematician who proved that pi was transcendental. This discovery proved the impossibility of the squaring of the circle by compass and ruler construction, since it showed pi not to be the root of any polynomial equation. Buoyed by false confidence after his victory over pi, Lindemann proceeded to publish several invalid proofs of Fermat's last theorem (Bell 1937, pp. 464-465).

Additional biographies: MacTutor (St. Andrews)